Supply of at least four of the country's most commonly used contraceptive pills is about to run out - which will leave many people without their first choice of contraception.
Family Planning issued a statement on Friday advising that supplies of Brevinor, Brevinor 1/28, Norimin and Necon are not expected to be restored until February 2021, and people may need to change to a different oral contraceptive.
People with a prescription for any of these medications will no longer be able to fill it out at their pharmacy either, according to the Family Planning website.
Family Planning National Medical Advisor Dr Beth Messenger says she understands the issues sit with the manufacturers.
"The contraceptive pill is still the most commonly used contraceptive tool in New Zealand. Women need a reliable supply to protect against pregnancy and to support them with a range of medical conditions," she says.
"At Family Planning we write more than 32,000 contraceptive pill prescriptions each year - we know how many people are potentially impacted by this shortage."
Dr Messenger says Family Planning has already been contacted by GPs looking for advice and support about other contraceptive options that can be offered.
"We want to ensure these clients have good information about how they’re to manage this shortage and we want to provide our clinical colleagues with information about the options they can offer their clients."
Last month Pharmac advised healthcare professionals of the manufacturing delay of Brevinor-1, a funded 28-day pill, but at the time, expected more stock to arrive in New Zealand in mid-October.
Several other contraceptive pills are currently funded in New Zealand.
